A Brady touchdown pass cut the deficit to 10 points with 13 minutes left, but the Patriots' next three possessions netted 5 yards. After a New England field goal, Miami sealed the victory by recovering an onside kick with 53 seconds to go.

"This gives us a boost," Cutler said. "Winning is what keeps you in this game. The locker room after a game, there's nothing like it."

The Dolphins wore their 1972 uniforms, and for the first time in four prime-time appearances this season, they rose to the occasion. Miami tried to turn the game into a laugher in the third quarter when Landry caught a touchdown pass and then set the ball down in the end zone and pumped it repeatedly -- a reference to the Patriots' Deflategate scandal.

"It's all about taking the air out of the ball," Landry said.

Coach Adam Gase beat New England for the first time in four tries. His team snapped the Patriots' 14-game road winning streak, second-best ever behind San Francisco's 18 in a row from 1988-90.

Gase threw a lot of wrinkles at the Patriots early, with tight end MarQueis Gray and receivers Landry and Jakeem Grant taking turns lining up in the backfield.

"We used a lot of guys," Cutler said. "We were mixing it up. Adam was dialing it up well."

Cutler spun out of the grasp of blitzing safety Jordan Richards to throw a completion that kept Miami's first touchdown drive going.

The 5-foot-7 Grant made a leaping catch against Malcolm Butler for his first career touchdown reception, a 25-yarder.

Meanwhile, the Patriots sputtered without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who served a one-game suspension for a late hit to the head of an opponent.

"We got beat in all three areas of the game," coach Bill Belichick said.

BALL HAWK

Brady underthrew an open Brandin Cooks deep, and Howard closed for the interception and a 29-yard return to set up a touchdown. Howard also had two interceptions a week ago against Denver.

Brady came into the game with only four interceptions all season.

SLOW START

The temperature was 55 degrees at kickoff -- frosty by Miami standards -- and the Patriots were sluggish from the outset. They were outgained 123 yards to 2 in the first quarter, when Brady went 0 for 4 with an interception.

ANTHEM

The Dolphins' Kenny Stills, Michael Thomas and Julius Thomas knelt in protest during the national anthem, as they've done for most of the season. Stills was nominated by his teammates last week for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

NFL News

Drew Brees isn't having the statistical blockbuster of a season that he has been accustomed to, but the New Orleans Saints quarterback likes the trajectory of a young team that does not have to rely on his heroics every week to outscore an opponent.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is already certain that he will play in the upcoming road game against the Seattle Seahawks. Woods has missed the last three games with a sprained left shoulder.